Heritage Action Staff

The Heritage Action team is passionate and dedicated to restoring conservative principles to America. The team is located in Washington, DC and across the country to ensure we can be the voice for reason and sound policy for the American people.

Tim Chapman

Executive Director

Tim Chapman serves as the Executive Director of Heritage Action. In this role, Chapman is responsible for establishing a long-term, strategic vision for Heritage Action while working alongside The Heritage Foundation leadership to ensure both organizations are working toward common goals. The Pennsylvania native is an original co-founder of Heritage Action for America, serving first as its Chief Operating Officer, and has been a driving force in the day-to-day successes of the organization.

A distinguished voice in the conservative movement, Chapman has served as a key adviser on public policy matters throughout his tenure in the United States Senate and with The Heritage Foundation as chief of staff to former-President, Ed J. Feulner, Ph.D. Tim has been published and quoted in outlets including Politico Magazine, The Hill, National Review, The Washington Post, and Forbes, and has made multiple appearances on cable television.

Jessica Anderson

Vice President

Jessica Anderson is the Vice President of Heritage Action for America. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic operation and day-to-day activities of the government relations, policy, digital marketing, and grassroots teams. Prior to her return to Heritage Action, Anderson served as Associate Director, Intergovernmental Affairs and Strategic Initiatives for the Office of Management and Budget in the Trump Administration. Anderson has nearly 10 years of political experience which includes her first tour at Heritage Action as Grassroots Director. Anderson landed on the 2017, 30 Under 30 Forbes List for Law and Policy and is a recipient of other top 30 Under 30 awards from Newsmax and Red Alert. Jessica Anderson has been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Real Clear Policy, The Hill, and The American Spectator. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Koch Associate Program.

Josh Arnold

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Josh Arnold

Josh Arnold was born and raised in Canton, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Akron with a bachelor’s degree in international politics (magna cum laude) and a focus on U.S. national security. Before rejoining Heritage Action, he worked as Advisor to the President at The Heritage Foundation and was previously Senior Legislative Assistant for Heritage Action’s government relations team. He started in D.C. as an intern, then executive assistant for Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio, former chairman of both the House Freedom Caucus and Republican Study Committee. He resides in Washington, D.C.

Ian Artinger

Digital Campaign Director

Ian Artinger

Ian Aringer was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and additionally grew up in Wisconsin, Georgia, and California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Brigham Young University. Before joining Heritage Action for America, he was the Director of Operations for Capshare, Inc., a financial software startup based in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is an Appalachian Trail 2,000-miler.

Garrett Bess

Government Relations Director

Garrett Bess

Garrett Bess is the Government Relations Director of Heritage Action for America. He is responsible for managing the government relations team and the day to day interactions with Members of Congress and their staff. He has served for nearly a decade on the Hill as a senior staff member to two Members of Congress. He is a native of Tampa Bay, Florida.

Melody Clarke

Senior Regional Coordinator, Mid-atlantic

Melody Clarke

Melody Himel Clarke was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. Melody is a life-long entrepreneur having founded and operated businesses in the hospitality, realty, and communications industries. She was the first woman to run for the 100th Legislative District in Virginia and has worked on numerous state and federal campaigns. She is an avid equestrian and also hosts a conservative talk-radio show.

Wesley Coopersmith

Deputy Director of Government Relations

Wesley Coopersmith

Wesley Coopersmith is the Deputy Director of Government Relations for Heritage Action for America. He is responsible for managing the day to day interactions with U.S. Senators and their staff. Previously, he has been responsible for the policy and legislative priorities of Heritage Action and served as the organization’s Director of Coalitions and Outreach. Wesley has been published in outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, The Hill, Townhall, and the Daily Caller, among others.

Lindsey Curnutte

Digital Campaign Associate

Lindsey Curnutte

Lindsey Curnutte grew up across the U.S. in an Air Force Family, spending most of her childhood in Southwest Ohio and Northern Virginia. She earned degrees in journalism and political science from Ohio University. Before joining Heritage Action for America, she worked as a digital strategist for Red Edge and as a reporter for The Heartland Institute's Budget and Tax News. She has interned for The Heritage Foundation, The Weekly Standard, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-2), and Rep. Warren Davidson (OH-8).

Bryan Denny

Marketing Manager

Bryan Denny

Bryan Denny was born in Alexandria, Virginia and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Grove City College in May 2017. He currently resides in Arlington, VA with his wife, Kellen.

Mark DiPlacido

Senior Legislative Assistant

Mark DiPlacido

Mark DiPlacido is a senior legislative assistant at Heritage Action for America. He has previously worked on the policy promotion team at The Heritage Foundation and as a legislative aide for U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, where he worked on a variety of economic and domestic policy issues. Before moving to D.C., he received a B.A. in History at Yale University, where he also served as President of the Yale Political Union and Vice President of the William F. Buckley Jr. Program.

Nathan Duell

Regional Coordinator, Southwest

Nathan Duell

Nathan Duell is a native Arizonan and a graduate of Arizona State University with bachelor’s degrees in economics and supply chain management. While at ASU, he was a conservative voice in student government and College Republicans, and Nathan also completed the Koch Internship Program in DC where he interned with Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Before joining Heritage Action, he worked in banking as an analyst and remained involved in politics as a precinct committeeman.

Walker Gallman

Senior Legislative Assistant

Walker Gallman

Walker Gallman was born and raised in Dalton, GA. He attended Valdosta State University where he received his BBA in marketing. After graduating, he went on to receive his insurance license before deciding to pursue a career in public policy. Before joining Heritage Action, he worked on Congressman Rick Allen’s (GA-12) legislative team as a Legislative Correspondent. During his tenure with Congressman Allen, he gained a wealth of legislative experience while focusing on a policy portfolio consisting of issues related to veterans, criminal justice reform, religious liberties, Second Amendment rights, science & technology, government oversight, and pro-life policies.

Karen Jaroch

Regional Coordinator, Florida

Karen Jaroch

Karen Jaroch is a University of South Florida graduate and licensed professional engineer from Tampa, FL. After working several years in manufacturing, Karen changed professions and followed her passion into politics. In 2009 she co-founded a vibrant, active tea party and then co-led a successful campaign that defeated a local sales tax increase for light rail despite overwhelming odds. Her efforts led to her board appointment to the local transit agency HART. During the 2012 election cycle she served as a field coordinator in the Tampa area building grassroots relations with conservative organizations while managing a top-producing volunteer phonebank and canvassing center.

Stephanie Kreuz

Regional Manager and Senior Advisor

Stephanie Kreuz

Stephanie Kreuz has been involved in public policy and political campaigns since 2005. Prior to joining the Heritage Action team she worked in the legal field, and wrote for WatchdogWire, a project of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity. She also previously interned for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan in education policy. Stephanie graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Hillsdale College in 2012, with a major in Politics and a minor in Latin.

James Quarles

Regional Coordinator, Southern and Upper Midwest

James Quarles

James Quarles was born and raised in upstate South Carolina. He earned a degree in Political Science from Clemson University, where as a member of College Republicans, he worked with conservatives on campus and volunteered on several campaigns around the state. Before joining Heritage Action, he interned in the Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at The Heritage Foundation, with a focus on regulation and free market issues. James now serves as the Southeastern Regional Coordinator.

Nathan Rogers

Senior Advisor, Political Affairs

Nathan Rogers

Nathan Rogers was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in St. Louis. He earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Politics at Ave Maria University. Nathan is a graduate of the Young Leaders Program at Heritage. Before joining Heritage he worked at Strategic Advocacy as a Director of Field Operations for the 2014 election Cycle. He resides in Falls Church, Virginia.

Gabrielle Schirmer

Executive Assistant & Program Coordinator

Gabrielle Schirmer

Gabrielle is the Executive Assistant and Program Coordinator for Heritage Action for America. She was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio and graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a degree in Political Science and minor in Business Administration. Prior to joining the team, Gabrielle was an intern for the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation.

Brian Schmitt

Strategic Partnerships Coordinator

Brian Schmitt

Brian is Strategic Partnerships Coordinator at Heritage Action for America. He was born and raised in Mandeville, Louisiana and graduated from Spring Hill College with a degree in International Studies and minors in Political Science and Theology. Prior to joining the team, Brian worked on municipal and gubernatorial campaigns in Alabama and was an intern in The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program.

Janae Stracke

Grassroots Director

Janae Stracke

Janae Stracke first to came to DC four years ago to work for Concerned Women for America as their Communications Coordinator and as the Executive Assistant to CWA’s CEO and President. Janae was then promoted to National Field Director where she had the privilege of working with CWA's thousands of volunteer leaders across the country. As National Field Director she also oversaw CWA's Young Women for America initiative on college campuses. Janae grew up on a farm in Western Iowa and attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where she received a bachelor's degree in journalism broadcasting and a double minor in public relations and psychology.

Rebekah Warwick

Regional Coordinator, Western

Rebekah Warwick

Interested in politics since she was eligible to vote, Rebekah Warwick has spent time working with Colorado Legislators at the Capitol in Denver. She has been involved with various grassroots campaigns, advocating conservative principles and encouraging citizens to engage in politics and public policy. She is a graduate of Colorado Christian University with a double-major in Political Science and History.

Noah Weinrich

Press Secretary

Noah Weinrich

Noah Weinrich is press secretary for Heritage Action for America. Noah was born and raised in Athens, Georgia, then he earned a bachelor’s degree in Politics from Hillsdale College, where he served as vice president of his class. Before joining Heritage Action, he worked as a staff writer at Pinkston Group, a D.C.-area public relations firm. He also worked as an editorial intern at In Pursuit Of, as a freelance writer, and as a campaign intern for Rep. Jody Hice. He currently resides in Washington, D.C.

John Wilson

Senior Legislative Assistant

John Wilson

John is a Senior Legislative Assistant for Heritage Action for America. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and grew up in Roanoke, Indiana. He earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs at the nearby University of Virginia. Before joining Heritage Action, he worked for Congressman Jim Banks as a military legislative assistant. His career on the Hill started with Congressman Luke Messer as a Legislative Correspondent.